Wirelessly-powered illumination of biological tissue

摘要

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an implant device is wholly or partially implanted in a mammal. The implant device includes an antenna, circuitry, a supercapacitor, one or more light sources, and an array of optical fibers or light guides. The antenna and circuitry receive energy by wireless transmission from an external transmit coil. The supercapacitor stores at least a portion of the energy and provides power to one or more light sources. The array of optical fibers or light guides deliver light from the light sources to living tissue of a mammal. The tissue includes light-sensitive, heterologously expressed proteins. The light affects the light-sensitive proteins, triggering a change in all or part of the tissue, such as a change in voltage, pH or a change in function.

主权项

1. A method comprising, in combination:
(a) using an antenna and circuitry to receive energy by wireless transmission; (b) using a supercapacitor to store at least a portion of the energy and to provide power to one or more light sources; and (c) using an array of optical fibers or light guides, to deliver light from one or more light sources to living tissue of a mammal, which tissue includes light-sensitive, heterologously expressed proteins; wherein all or or a portion of the array is implanted in the living mammal.